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[singed]

[The two conflicting impulses of ‘staying alive’ and ‘finding Shelby’ have fought themselves out in Garrett’s brain, and there is now one very attractive prince sitting on screen. If he seems distracted at moments, it’s because he’s on the lookout for potential wizards coming to kidnap him]

I have to say, this isn’t exactly how I imagined getting out of that cave. Then again, after a month or so, I was starting to wonder if I might not get out at all. So I suppose this is an improvement.

[He glances over his shoulder, before returning to the camera. He’s basically assuming this is some weird kind of magic despite the kedan's explanation, because what is technology.] I’m not sure how I feel about being surrounded by trees again. It’s a hard life for a – for me. My life is difficult. Exceedingly so. [a cough] But I do believe that someone out there may be able to help me, at least with one particular issue.

[He holds up a finger, and hurries off screen. There is the unmistakeable sound of a toilet flushing, and then he’s back] What in Enu’s name was that?

[A beat] Also, there are potentially two people looking for me, here. One of them is called Frances von Magica, and I suggest you stay far, far away from him should he turn up. If you find my empty husk of a corpse lying on the streets somewhere, it was most likely him. [He pauses for a second, and some of the upbeat nature slips from his tone. He drums his fingers against the desk] The other person knows who she is.

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[depicted]

["It’s a hard life for a –" - person who hasn't quite learned the art of discretion, possibly?]

[Kind of endearing, though, so Dorian is nice enough when he answers.]

It seems your other to questions have mostly been answered. I hope you'll find this less of a hard life for a you. [All right, a little bit of teasing.] Not much work is asked, and accommodations are provided. [Minus the occasional catastrophes and horrors, it's practically a vacation!]

[singed]

[What is discretion, can you eat it.

Garrett merely grins when he catches that teasing.] A me very much appreciates your kind thoughts, Sir...? [He nods a little] I must say, having the existence of beds with mattresses and clean sheets proven to me once again is definitely an advantage over my last residence.

[depicted]

[It isn't important. Trust Dorian.]

[Responding with a grin is a good sign, and Dorian warms up to Garrett.] Dorian Gray. And I'm afraid I didn't catch your name, happy though I am to hear you're fully appreciating the world of reality after escaping your cave.

[singed]

[Garrett stands and offers a florid bow, a somewhat self-deprecating smirk on his face] Garrett, at your - well, I shouldn't be offering services so soon, we've only just met. Granted, I'm not entirely convinced that this is reality.

[depicted]

[Nice bow. Dorian's response is much less florid and much more Victorian.] I would really advise against getting too ontological. It never goes far, and you keep having to think about the absurdity of being on the back of a turtle.

[singed]

I'm sorry, you said what?

[depicted]

[Whoops.] No one has told you about the turtle part, yet?

[singed]

No, that was missed out of the introduction. [There's a pause] It can't be spoken to, can it? [Garrett is concerned that his companion will try to make it her pet]

[depicted]

Apparently, it's "too ancient" to communicate with. [He recites from memory] Dangerous, overwhelming, and apparently able to "suck you in," whatever that means, if you don't have a girlfriend around to knock you out of it.

[Look, he doesn't know. He hasn't talked to turtles very often.]

[singed]

Well then, I should be perfectly fine, having a friend who is a girl who delights in knocking me about when she can.

[A beat] A turtle, really? In my world, magical creatures got smaller, not larger.

[depicted]

Did they? Interesting. [Dorian shrugs.] The magical creatures in my world were primarily humanoid or possessed inanimate objects, so I can't really say about the size of animals. The humanoids were normal-sized, though.

[singed]

The decline of magic means they can no longer sustrain themselves. A cry of 'kraken' on a ship requires a man with a long stick to poke the thing off the hull rather than all hands on deck, these days.

Would you tell me of your world? [He seems fascinated by this idea, for now at least]

[depicted]

[Dorian considers that. It's interesting. He isn't certain that magic exists exactly the same way in his world, of course.]

What do you want to know? From a guess, the technology my world has is very different. The magic also seems like it; all the supernatural where I'm from lives in the shadows, and if we do have any kind of mage or wizard lurking about, they've kept their presence secret from me.